Ealth Cience Ournal: Cultural Views and Practices Related To Breastfeeding
Ealth Cience Ournal: Cultural Views and Practices Related To Breastfeeding
Ealth Cience Ournal: Cultural Views and Practices Related To Breastfeeding
ABSTRACT
Background: The feeding method of neonates and babies and, especially, the issue of breastfeeding is one
of the most important for public health. Despite the sensitization, the intention and recommendations of
the world scientific community, only 39% of babies, on an international level, are fed during the first six
Aim: The present study attempted a bibliographic review of the studies about cultural practices and beliefs
for breastfeeding. The research question focused on whether cultural and social standards lead up to what
Method: We studied all articles at the period 1988-2008 in the Pubmed which associated the initiation and
duration of breastfeeding with the cultural status of a certain society. The key-words were society,
Results: The process of breastfeeding is often not determined by biological factors, but it is mainly based
on the habits, standards and behaviors existing in each society. Views on the function of female breasts,
the quality of mother’s milk as well as traditional practices related to breastfeeding are often the reasons
Conclusion: Public health policies worldwide must take into account and study the cultural status of a
society in order to create favorable conditions for the initiation and duration of breastfeeding.
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Maria Daglas
38 Paradeisou Str.
E-mail: daglam@fks.uoc.gr
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INTRODUCTION T
he regards objectives the proper of public health as diet of a child are
and artificial feeding- and children’s care can save more than 5,000 lives per day4.
the natural development and nutrition,
Improper practices, however, as regards
the avoidance of complications related to
the babies’ diet contribute even more to
the diet and the prevention of chronic
childhood malnutrition. Childhood
diseases. Issues of special interest for
malnutrition is responsible for half of the
public health include the diet of
remaining deaths of children every year4.
neonates and babies, as many of the
causes of child mortality are due to diet
Social and cultural factors related to the
practices1,2,3.
initiation and progress of breastfeeding According to Unicef 4 more than
Only 39% of the babies are exclusively
10,000,000 children die every year,
breastfed on an international level
mainly from causes that can be
during the first 6 months of their lives6.
prevented, such as diarrhea, pneumonia,
Furthermore, it is estimated that 63% of
measles and malaria. Some of these
the babies younger than 6 months in the
causes of child mortality, at least to
developing countries have not breastfed
some degree, are related to the diet of
to a satisfactory degree7. However, in
neonates and babies and more
some Asian countries, such as Thailand,
specifically, to water quality, sterilization
breastfeeding percentages increased from
of objects etc.
90% in 1987 to 99% in 19938, while in
However, it is estimated that 3,500
countries, such as Uzbekistan, there is
children could be saved on a daily basis
an increasing tendency in the
if every baby was exclusively breastfed
breastfeeding percentages9. The small during the first 6 months of their lives5.
percentages of exclusive breastfeeding
According to the best estimates,
observed internationally10,11,12,13,14 are
exclusive breastfeeding can prevent at
mainly due to the fact that such a
least 1,300,000 deaths of children,
natural process is not only determined
mainly, due to the biochemical
by biological factors, but it is also
composition of mother’s milk, while the
supported by the habits, standards and
mixed diet, that is breastfeeding plus
behaviors prevailing in each society15-20. artificial feeding, some 587,000 more4. In
Examples such as the lack of support and
other words, the combination of these
encouragement from family members,
improvements in the diet –breastfeeding
such as the mother, the grandmother,
Page | 354 Cultural views and practices related to breastfeeding
US infants: the Third National 13. Griffiths LJ, Tate AR, Dezateux C
16. Kong S.K.F, Lee D.T.F. Factors M. Factors associated with